Lower Wye Creek Track, Remarkables Conservation Area NZ

A walk through beech forest to the tree-line at Wye Creek in the Remarkables Conservation Area. There are views further up the creek and over Lake Wakatipu.

Lower Wye Creek Track, Remarkables Conservation Area

Lower Wye Creek is the forested section of a potentially much longer walk in the Remarkables Conservation Area. Ending the walk just above the tree line makes it a satisfying finish with views up the creek to high ground, and of rugged crags immediately above the creek. Picking your way very carefully between lethal spear grass you can climb up the steep slopes from the creek to get more (partial) views of Lake Wakatipu.

A pretty straightforward walk described on the DOC website.

Lower Wye Creek Track, Remarkables Conservation Area
On an obvious track the whole way. You can save a short but steep climb at the very start by driving that bit, but there is limited car parking and it’s a very steep drive perhaps best done in a 4WD.

Although there’s no track, you can continue up the creek to Lake Alta and the Remarkables ski fields, although I’d say most people would do it downhill as a day walk. We’ve not done this yet because of transport logistics.

Lower Wye Creek Track: The Scenery

My pictures are almost all from the turnaround point just above the tree line, and so are a little misleading as the walk is mostly through beech forest.

January 1st 2016
Lower Wye Creek Track, Remarkables Conservation Area
Looking back towards Queenstown over Lake Wakatipu
Lower Wye Creek Track, Remarkables Conservation Area
Lake Wakatipu
Lower Wye Creek Track, Remarkables Conservation Area
A bendy panorama of the cliffs above Wye Creek.
Lower Wye Creek Track, Remarkables Conservation Area
Looking up Wye Creek.
Lower Wye Creek Track, Remarkables Conservation Area
A bit of Lake Wakatipu visible from this spot, and the beech forest down in Wye Creek Valley.
Lower Wye Creek Track, Remarkables Conservation Area
Sophia descending back to Wye Creek after we checked out the views from up a bit higher. Those spear grass plants were absolutely lethal, so whatever you do don’t touch them. It was hard work picking our way between them and trying not to slip and break our fall by putting our hand onto one.
December 31st 2012

A few photos from three years earlier when the weather was a lot cooler, despite it being mid summer…

Lower Wye Creek Track, Remarkables Conservation Area
Dec 2012: A slightly blurry photo of the creek just inside the beech forest. I wanted to include it since this was the only shot from below the tree line that I took.
Lower Wye Creek Track, Remarkables Conservation Area
From Dec 2012
Lower Wye Creek Track, Remarkables Conservation Area
My wife Sophia at the turnaround point of the walk. It was rather cold despite being mid summer.
Lower Wye Creek Track, Remarkables Conservation Area
There had been some snow on high ground overnight.

Author: Edward Hathway

I'm a clinical psychologist and keen hiker.

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